Happiness

Rating:
Summary: Simply One of the Best
Review: I recomm'd to a bunch of people. One went to see it with her sister. The next day, she called me a sick f***. She said it was so depraved. I asked her if she laughed at all. Answer: "The whole time!" Need I say more?

Rating:
Summary: .
Review: An incredible and engrossing movie, and home to what are unquestionably some of the most uncomfortable scenes in the history of cinema. Not for the easily offended, but it's admirably unique and far better balanced than Welcome to the Dollhouse, Solondz's first film. This film succeeds in peeling back the candy-coated "surface reality" of middle-class life, (and spares none of the candy-coating in its depiction, making use of gaudy, colorful sets and juxtaposing cheesy sentimental music on strange and sometimes disturbing scenes) -- and displaying the rot beneath. At the same time it is a sympathetic film (though not exceedingly so), for all of the characters in the movie, no matter how despicable their actions seem, are above and beyond all, just human beings like anyone else. Not for everyone, unfortunately, but I thought it was a fine film.

Rating:
Summary: Ick. No thanks
Review: Go see a real movie. For instance, American Beauty. THIS is a REAL movie. Makes Happiness look like "child's play." Scoff, scoff, scoff.

Rating:
Summary: What is the big fuss here??
Review: Shocking? Yes, maybe. But why is this one so much more shocking to so many people (pro's and cons) than, let's say for instance, Scream?? That one is shocking and violent and totally unrealistic. This one is shocking and violent and portrays the world we live in in a very realistic way! Maybe without knowing or realising it THAT is what people find so shocking about it. One reviewer wrote: "I actually felt violated watching this movie. Completely unentertaining. Made me feel very uneasy watching it. It seemed to have no point." Well, fellow viewer: THAT might be the point exACTly! As director Solondz already proved with his wonderful and almost equally uncomfortable DOLLHOUSE film he has a very sharp eye wor what is happening around him and his memories and observations of his life and the world he spends it in are not obscured by pink clouds. A lot of people portrayed in HAPPINESS are resembling many people I know in real life. This is what we made of the world, people, weather you like it or not! Those who don't like the film or don't see the point in this film are probably those who it is about. I myself found it very comforting to see that there is at least ONE person in the world who actually sees the things I see: that the real world and the real life are definitely not what everyone tries to make it look like in everyday talks, magazines and tv-soaps. Brilliant. Kept me glued to my seat for the full 130 minutes.

Rating:
Summary: Excellent!
Review: What an incredible film... I can't stop thinking about it! Perhaps the people in this movie are more neurotic than your average person, or perhaps not. In any case, this film accurately shows, in a very raw manner, what drives our neurosis: the quest for "happiness", American-style. I recommend it to anyone!

Rating:
Summary: There are some movies that defy reviews,
Review: There are some movies that defy reviews, and happiness is one of them. A movies that tears through almost every hidden, untalked about dark structure within the human mind... When I first saw it I could barely believe what I saw, I couldn't even catch my breath! See it if you pride yourself on your morality because its always good to be exposed to that darkside of human nature so as not to forget. See it if you have no morality to speak of for a good laugh. See it if your just another poor sucker like me so you can grimace and grip tight your seat at every scene. God help me, i couldn't even catch my breath at some points in this movie. Some people like to mention this movie in the same sentence as "Very Bad Things" but this one restructures your mind at the primordial level. or in other words: You'll probably hate it, but watch it anyhow.

Rating:
Summary: Great if you aren't a "strait."
Review: Stunningly great. Sick, twisted, shocking, funny, and real. For anyone who knows what its like to be on the outside of love looking in, and feeling totally bewildered by the entire process, this movie is a must see. Many reviews paint this movie as a glorification of sexual abuse. It is anything but. See it and decide for yourself.

Rating:
Summary: A MASTERPIECE!!!!!!!
Review: This dark, yet subtle piece of film is stimulating, vicarious and bold in a way which stimulates the senses and feeds the mind with intelligence and quality. It is truly a shame that this masterpiece of cinema received such a tawdry and obtuse reception when it was released. One can only hope that in the future-directors like Todd Solondz and others will continue to produce and market films like this one- this is TRULY one of the BEST films of 1998!!!!!!!!!!!!! SEE IT!!!!!

Rating:
Summary: Shockingly funny, deeply disturbing and evilly savage !
Review: Together with Welcome to the Dollhouse, this is by far one of director Todd Solondz's best movies. Okay, maybe a movie about masturbation, perverts, thieves and etc. is not the ideal but even with its strong language and bad taste, this movie is a must ! Evil performances by Dylan Baker as a sexual pervert who likes little boys, Phillip Seymour Hoffman as a unberable phone caller, Camryn Manheim as the obese murderer and Lara Flynn Boyle as the sexy slut who lives next door to Hoffman. Happiness will come as a shock to you but later you will realise what a good film it is.

Rating:
Summary: Only a genius.....
Review: I could easily write a doctoral dissertation about this film, that's how deep its impact is. I will, however, say here that only a genius such as Mr. Solondz would film a scene in Joe & Mary's bar in North Bergen, NJ, using Air Supply as a soundtrack. Genius Genius Genius. I grew up around the corner from that bar, a little hole in the wall in a hole in the wall town. As a young adult, my best friend and I would stop in there for last call, just to enjoy the ambiance, if you will. I almost plotzed when I saw that scene the first time I saw the movie. I began uttering strange gutteral noises and my wife thought I was having a heart attack. I was like "oh, my God, NO WAY....JOE AND FREAKIN' MARY'S, NAW, UH UH, NO WAY!!!!!!!! Of course, I saw the film in Boston, so none of the other theatergoers could relate. I dragged my buddy to the film a few weeks later, and I had to carry his jaw out of the theater. It was just priceless the look on his face when that scene came on the screen. The scene starts with a quick look at the neon sign outside the bar. I'm checkin' my bud's reaction, which was delayed for about 4 seconds, then the complete look of utter shock. Oh, well, one of those things where, you, uh, "had to be there." Thanks Mr. Solondz. Thanks Thanks Thanks.